Answers

IT requirements vary from tool to tool, but the primary system that we are a value added reseller for and implement is Adaptive Planning. It is a secure, cloud-based system that ultimately just requires either a PC/Mac (Mac must be on Firefox browser) and is accessed by an internet browser and Java applet. All of the database underlying the tool is hosted on servers which are accessed utilizing the cloud-based application. The only requirements typically placed on IT resources in the implementation of Adaptive is the need to gain access to actuals through a flat file format or to do a direct extract-transform-load into the system using either Adaptive's Connector software or API.

My suggested best practices in implementation of a CPM product is probably the same that you will hear from many others:

1. Request demonstrations from a multitude of different vendors;
2. Identify a vendor for the software and look into the most capable implementer (many have channel partners, much like myself, that were former users of the software who understand pitfalls in doing the implementations);
3. Actively manage the project and if implementing something like Adaptive Planning (which is similar to Excel) take an active role in being educated via immersion in the implementation (i.e. learning by doing the coding); and
4. Agree to baseline functionality and reporting that you want the product to be capable of at the outset of the engagement, implement that and then start adding greater functionality as you use the product.

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